Tray for egg-cases.



J. B. WARREN.

TRAY FOR EGG'CASES.

APPLICATIQN FILED MAY 26, 1916.

Patented June 19, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 llwenior: John 11. Warren,

J. B. WARREN.

TRAY FOR EGG CASES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 2s, 1.916.

1,230,546. Patented June 19, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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JOHN B. WARREN, OF BOLTON, MASSACHUS FARM, INQ, OF BOLTON, MASSACHUSETT ETTS, ASSIGNOR T0 BROADFIELD POULTRY S, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

TRAY FOR EGG-CASES.

Application filed May 26, 1916.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN B. WARREN, a citizen of the United States of America and a resident of Bolton, in the county of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Trays for Egg-Cases, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to trays for egg cases or crates, and is an improvement upon the tray shown and Patent of the United States No. 1,097,743, issued to me May 26, 1914.

One object of the present invention is to simplify the construction of the tray and at the same time give it greater rigidity when in use shown in the above-mentioned patent.

Another object of the invention is to provide a structure the various units of which may be readily handled in an automatic machine when the various members are assembled to form the tray.

A further object is to provide a tray the construction of which is such that the eggs may be candled without removal from the tray.

The invention consists in certain novel features of construction and arrangement of parts which will be understood by reference to the description of the drawings and to the claims hereinafter given.

For the purpose of illustrating the inven tion one preferred form thereof is illustrated in the drawings, this form having been found to give satisfactory and reliable results, although it is to be understood that the various instrumentalities of which the invention consists can be variously arranged and organized, and that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangement and organization of these instrumentalities as herein shown and described.

Ofthe drawings: 7 V

Figure 1 represents a plan of an egg case containing a tray embodying the features of the present invention.

Fig. 2 represents a partial vertical section of the same on line 22 on Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 represents a partial vertical section of the same on line 83 on Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 represents an elevation of one of the divisional walls,

Fig, 5 represents elevation of one of Specification of Letters Patent.

described in the Letters than was obtained in the tray V Patented June 19, 1917. Serial No. 100,709. I

the other divisional walls adapted to be engaged in the slits at the opposite ends of the divisional walls shown in Fig. 4.

Fig- 6 represents an elevation of one of the divisional walls adapted to be engaged in the interior slits of the divisional walls shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 represents an elevation of one of the yielding strips for positioning the larger end of the egg, and

Fig. 8 represents an elevation of one of the inclined strips for positioning the smaller end of the egg.

Similar characters designate like parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

In the drawings, 10 represents an egg case containing a tray composed of a plurality of partition members or divisional walls 11 having interlocked therewith a plurality of other partition members or divisional walls 12 and 13, these partition members 11, 12, and 13 being shown in elevation in Figs. 4, 5, and 6 respectively. All of these members are preferably constructed of pasteboard or some similar yielding material.

Each partition member 11 is provided with a plurality of slits 14: extending downwardly from the upper edge thereof, and

each of said slits having a projection 15 extending across the same as clearly shown in 1 ofthe drawings. In the construction of the tray only two partition members 12 are used, each of these partition members being provided with slits 16 extending upwardly from the lower edge thereof, and

each of these slits being provided with a projection 17 extending. across said slit. The two partition members 12 are designed to be interlocked with the partition members 11 and positioned in the outer slits 14 thereof. The intermediate slits 14 of the partition members 11 are adapted to receive the partition members 13, each of which is provided with a plurality of slits 16 extending upwardly from the lower edge thereof, and having a projection 17 extending across each slit. These partition members 13 are provided with a plurality of U-shaped notches 18 of considerable width, as shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings, the bottom of these notches 19 being sub.

stantially midway of the height of said partition members, while the side edges 20 thereof are inclined upwardly from each other, all as shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings.

The partition members 12 and 13 are each provided with a plurality of alined openings 21 extending therethrough at the same distance from the upper edge of said partition members that the projections 15 are located relatively to the upper edge of the partition members 11. \Vhen the various partition members 11, 12, and 13, have been assembled as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 of the drawings, the projections 15 will extend into the openings 21 and lock the partition members 11, 12, and 13 together. In a similar manner, the partition members 11 are ach provided with a plurality of alined openings 22 which are adapted to receive the projections 17 in the slits 16 of the partition members 12 and 13, thus more firmly locking the various partition members together.

When these partition members 11, 12, and 13 have been assembled, a plurality of egg receiving pockets are formed, as shown in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive. The partition members 11, 12, and 13 are made of sutlicient height so that the walls of the pockets formed thereby will extend beyond the ends of any positioned therein. The partition members 12 are provided with additional slits 23 in the upper edges thereof, these slits or incisions 23 being adapted to receive a plurality of yielding strips 2%.

Each strip is provided with an opening therein near either end thereof, which openings when properly positioned in the slits are adapted to receive a locking projection 26 extending into each slit. It is obvious, therefore, that the strips 2% are locked at either end to the outer partition members 12, while the intermediate portions of said strips 21 are positioned within the wide U-shaped notches 18 in the strips 13, and bear against the inclined walls 20 of said. U-shaped notches 18.

Each of the partition members 11 is provided with a plurality of inclosed slots 27, these slots being in pairs and inclined downwardly toward each other, as shown in Fig. l of the drawings. Each pair of slots 27 is located between the slits or incisions 14. Each inclosed slot 27 is provided with an inwardly extending projection or looking member 28. In the slots 27 are positioned a plurality of strips 29, each strip being provided with a plurality of openings 30 therethrough.

When the strips 29 have been positioned in the slots 27 oil the partition members 11, each opening 30 in said strips will receive one of the locking projections 28 and thereby prevent end movement of said strips. Both of the strips 24.- and 29 are made of yielding material, such as p'asteboard, and

when said strips have been positioned in the slits 23 or slots 27 provided therefor, said strips 2 1 will be perpendicular to the strips 29 and removed from the walls of the pockets formed by the interlocked partition members 11, 12, and 13. The lower strips when positioned will be inclined downwardly toward each other as indicated in Fig. 2 of the drawings. and each pair of said strips is adapted. to receive and position the smaller end of an 31, while the upper end of said egg will be positioned between the strips 24- at a higher level than the strips 29.

hen the is inserted between the strips 2+1 they will be bent from each other, as shown in Fig. 1, conforming to the shape of the egg. the 24 also becoming somewhat curved over the larger end of the egg, as indicated at 32 in Fig. 3 of the drawings.

Each strip 24 and 29 is provided with op positely disposed notches at one end, which facilitates the removal of the strips when such rem val is desired in order to remove the from. the tray. These notches in the strips :34- also facilitate the assembling of the various units of the tray by means of automatic machinery designed for this purpose.

One of each pair of slits 2 wider than the other, as shown at 34- in Fig. 5 of the drawings. The object of making these particular slits of greater width as shown is to facilitate the quick removal of one of each pair of strips 24 when it is desired to remove the eggs 31 from the pockets of the tray, it being possible to remove all the eggs without displacing the other strip of each pair.

By constructing the tray in the manner described, the various parts may be quickly assembled in automatic machines, and the completed tray delivered therefrom in condition for immediate use.

By providing the interior strips 13 with the wide notches 18, the eggs contained in the tray may be candled without handling and without removal from the tray.

The various members constituting the tray are locked together in such a. manner that none of the parts will be displaced accidentally.

It believed that the operation and many advantages of this invention will be fully understood from the foregoing description.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a device of the class described, the combination of a collapsible tray having a plurality of receiving pockets; means within each pocket consisting of flat yielding strips extending at different levels across said pockets at right angles to each other and. adapted to centrally position an egg free from contact with the walls of said within each pockets, said strips having ends extending beyond the outer walls of said tray; and means for locking said strips to said walls.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination of a collapsible tray having a plurality of egg receiving pockets formed of a plurality of interlocked divisional walls having slots each provided with an 1nwardly extending projection; and means within each pocket consisting of two pairs of flat yielding strips extending across said pockets at right angles to each other and at different levels adapted to centrally position an egg free from contact with the walls of said pockets, said strips being provided with openings each adapted to receive one of said projections.

In a device of the class described, the combination of a collapsible tray having a plurality of egg receiving pockets; means pocket consisting of two pairs of flatyielding strips extending across said pockets at right angles to each other and at diflerent levels adapted to centrally position an egg tree from contact with the walls of said pockets; means for locking said strips to said walls; and oppositely disposed notches at one end of each of said strips.

4. In a device of the class described, the combination of a collapsible tray having a plurality of egg receiving pockets formed oi a plurality of interlocked divisional walls having slots each provided with an inwardly extending projection; means within each pocket consisting of two pairs of flat yielding strips extending across said pockets at right angles to each other and at different levels adapted to centrally position an egg free from contact with the walls of said pockets, said strips being provided with openings each adapted to receive one of said projections; and oppositely disposed notches at one end of each of said strips.

5. In a device of the class described, the combination of a collapsible tray having a plurality of egg receiving pockets formed of a plurality of interlocked divisional walls perpendicular to each other, one set of said walls having at one level a plurality of inclosed slots and the outer walls of the other set having open slots at a higher level; a pair of strips extending across each row of pockets and locked at their ends in said open slots; and another pair of strips extending across each row of pockets at right angles to the beforementioned strips, and locked in the inclosed slots of said divisional walls through which they extend.

6. In a device of the class described, the combination of a collapsible tray having a plurality of egg receiving pockets formed of a plurality of interlocked divisional walls perpendicular to each other, one set of said walls having at one level a plurality of inclosed slots inclined downwardly toward each other and the outer walls of the other set having open slots at a higher level; a pair of strips extending across each row of pockets and locked at their ends in said open slots; and another pair of strips extending across each row of pockets at right angles to the beforementioned strips and locked in the inclosed slots of said divisional walls through which they extend.

7. In a device of the class described, the combination of a collapsible tray having a plurality of egg receiving pockets formed of a plurality of interlocked divisional walls perpendicular to each other, one set of said walls having at one level a plurality of in closed slots inclined downwardly toward each other and each provided with an inwardly extending projection and the outer walls of the other set having open slots at a higher level and each provided with an inwardly extending projection; a pair of strips extending across each row of pockets and provided at their ends with openings adapted to receive the projections in said open slots; and another pair of strips extending across each row of pockets at right angles to the beforementioned strips and provided with a plurality of openings adapted to receive the projections in the inclosed slots of said divisional walls through which; they extend.

8. In a device of the class described, the combination of a collapsible tray having a plurality of egg receiving pockets formed of a plurality of interlocked divisional walls perpendicular to each other, one set of said walls having at one level a plurality of inclosed slots and the outer walls of the other set having open slots at a higher level, while the intermediate walls of the latter set are provided with U-shaped notches in their upper edges adapted to receive and support both upper strips extending through each row of pockets; a pair of strips extending across each row of pockets and locked at; their ends in said open slots; and another pair of strips extending across each row of pockets at right angles to the beforementioned strips and locked in the inclosed slots of said divisional walls through which they, extend.

9. In a device of the class described, the combination of a collapsible tray formed of two sets of divisional walls perpendicular to each other having alined openings therein,| one set of walls having a plurality of parallel slits from the upper edge thereof and the other set having similar slits in the lower edge with the interior walls of the last mentioned set also provided at their upper edges with wide U-shaped notches extending substantially to the center of said walls; and a locking projection in each slit adapted to be positioned in one of said openings.

\ 10. In a device of the class described, the;

combination of a collapsible tray formed of two sets of divisional walls perpendicular to each other havin alined openings therein one set of walls having a plurality of parallel slits from the upper edge thereof and the other having similar slits in the lower edge with the interior walls ot the last mentioned set also provided at their upper edges with wide J-shaped notches extending substantially to the renter of said walls and having the upwardly extending edges thereoi inclined from each other; and a locking projection in each slit adapted to be positioned in one of said openings.

11. In a device (iii the class described. the combinz tion of a collapsible trav having a plurality of egg); receiving pockets; means within each pocket consistin of two pairs of flat yielding strips extending: across said pockets at right angles to each other and at different levels adapted to centrally position an tree from contact with the walls of said pockets; and means for locking said strips to said walls while permitting slight end movement of said strips. 7

12. in a device of the class described, the combination oi a collapsible tray having a plurality of receiving pockets; means within each pocketconsisting of two pairs of fiat yielding strips extendin at different levels across said pockets at ri 'ht angles to each. other and adapted to centrally position an egg free from contact with the walls of said pockets; and locking means on said walls coacting with said strips adapted to prevent the accidental displacement of said strips while permitting limited end movement thereof.

13. In a device of the class described, the combination of a collapsible tray having a 1 )lnrality of egg receiving pockets; means within each pocket consisting of two pairs of fiat yielding strips extending at ditl ercnt levels across said pockets right angles to each other and a daptcd to centrally position an egg tree from contact with the walls of said pockets, said strips having their ends extending beyond the outer walls of said tray and provided with oppositely disposed notches in the edges thereof; and means on said walls coacting with openings in said strips whereby the accidental displacement of said strips prevented while limited. end n'iovonient thereof is permitted.

Signed by me at 4r Post Ollice Sq, Boston, Mass, this 22nd day of May 1916.

JOHN B. lVAli-"tlli lVitncsses WALTER E. LOMBARD, EDWARD F. irLLnN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. U. 

